I’m sure you would’ve never guessed that girl had such a problem with acne in the first few seconds of the tutorial. I like the fact that though much concealer is applied, the final result has a slightly airbrushed and natural look to it.

Pretty brave girl to expose her biggest insecurity on the web wouldn’t you say.. But a great tutorial to share with those who have the same problem. Share your thoughts below

There are many brands to choose from, which range in price and texture. I’ve been using MAC’s Fluidline for a couple years now, since it stays on all day and lasts a long time when it’s for personal use. Their colors are rich and it applies very silky. Since my eyes are green I love using purple liner to compliment them, and MAC’s Fluidline in Macroviolet has done the trick. As many MAC lovers know, their makeup line isn’t the cheapest but it does often deliver great results.

A nice makeup look is attainable at any budget, so I decided to give Maybelline’s eye studio a try. Their purple or “eggplant” gel liner costs half as much as MAC’s and it’s pretty comparable. It doesn’t smudge, lasts all day, and even comes with a travel size application brush. This gel liner was named “eggplant” for a reason, because once you open it you’ll see the color truly matches that of an eggplant. The color looks so pretty and has a bit of shimmer to it. Maybelline gel eyeliner in eggplant is available at most drugstores and is priced @ $6.99.

Maybelline “eggplant” vs MAC “macroviolet”

Maybelline is on the left, MAC on the right. As you can see the shades are different. MAC’s is a bit darker, but when they’re applied they look pretty close in color. They both have a bit of shimmer mixed with the color, and come in a .10 oz glass jar. They both last all day, don’t smudge and apply evenly. The only difference I seem to have found is that MAC’s is more smooth than Maybellines and the color applies a bit darker, though not by much.  MAC’s is also a bit tougher to wash off. The final application for both liners is a nice purple line that lasts all day.Check out the color swatches below….

Can you guess which is MAC and which is Maybelline?!

If you guessed Maybelline on the left, MAC on the right then you are correct! MAC’s is a bit of a darker shade, as i mentioned, and it does have a silkier texture than Maybelline. But you can’t really complain about the texture if you’re paying half the price for a product that delivers similar results. Since I am a self-proclaimed makeup junkie and decide to sometimes buy the same color product just in a different brand, I now have more than enough purple liner to last me quite a while. It is recommend to toss out your makeup and replace it every few months, but if it’s for personal use and you don’t notice a change of color or smell, that rule can be broken.

What’s your opinion if you’ve tried either of these products… Are you a MAC or a Maybelline girl?!

You’d be surprised the difference a bit of color does for your eyes, when applied correctly! Just because you like bright shadows, doesn’t mean you have to look like you’re wearing too much.  Makeup accentuates your already existing beauty, though it can sometimes be tricky. This article will provide you tips and videos for experimenting with colors, without worrying about looking overdone.

I believe anyone can pull off colorful makeup regardless your tone or eye color, as long as the application is personally done to accentuate your characteristics. If you’re completely lost on which colors to try, check out these previous posts: Accentuate brown eyes, Tips for blue eyes, Make green eyes pop w/ these tips.

The first thing to remember when playing up your eyes with color, is to keep the rest of your makeup neutral. Unless you like this look, avoid pairing green shadows with pink cheeks and red lipstick… Though in the end you choose the look you are most comfortable wearing.

Blend colorful shadows with neutral ones for a softer look during the day; and add a black shadow for a smokey effect ,perfect for nighttime. Blending is a very important step when wearing colorful shadows, it makes your makeup application look softer and gets rid of any lines separating colors. In a way, it harmonizes colors. Please invest in a good blending brush because your fingers or little sponge applicator brushes are not going to do the job.

Though the multi-color-rainbow look can look very pretty on many ladies, it’s better to stick to one or two colorful shades. It’s easier to work with and a much versatile look.

Remember that color wheel concept?

It also applies to makeup. Complimentary colors are a good choice when using color shadows. For example, green/hazel eyes will stand out with purples and work well with blues and yellow-shades. Blue eyes look great with red/maroon shades and blend well with green and orange/copper shadows. Brown and black eyes take your pick, any color works well with your eyes!

Using eyeliner and mascara will better accentuate a colorful look. For an extra colorful look use: purple, blue, green or teal liner, otherwise stick to brown or black.

Eye Shadow by Urban Decay

A few videos that show how to work with color eye shadows.

1. Start with a clean face.

Wash ,dry, and apply moisturizer using circular motions on  your face.

2. Apply primer over entire eyelid

Use an eyeshadow primer over your entire eyelid to prevent color fading and creases.

3. Apply base eyeshadow.

Using a shader brush apply ricepaper shadow from the tear duct of your eye up and across below your eyebrow, and over your eyelid. With small circular motions sweep a blending brush over the shadow  to blend the color.  Use white frost shadow around the tear duct and just below your lower lash line.

4. Use a charcoal shadow  for a classic look or add purple/ blue shadows for a colorful smokey eye.

Eye Shadow by M·A·C

Using an angled brush apply black shadow from the outer corner of your eye and up on the crease just below your brow bone. use a blending brush to soften up the look by going over the black shadow in small circular sweeps. Keep using  the blending brush to apply more shadow and blend until you are satisfied with the intensity. Grab white frost shadow using a shader  brush and sweep it from your tear duct and across your eyelid.

5. Rim eyes with liner and apply mascara.

Using an eyeliner brush apply fluidline in blacktrack ( if you need help applying liner, refer to this previous post:How to apply liquid eyeliner ) from the inner corner of your eye all the way across. Carefully line your lower lash line ensuring not to poke or get product in your eye. Apply mascara to your top and bottom lashes, curl them and apply falsies for a more dramatic effect. Check out the video in this previous post, Makeup problems & solutions, to apply single lashes like a pro.

Mascara by M·A·C
Eye Shadow by M·A·C

Check out Smokey eye video tutorials for different looks!

It’s time to carve those pumpkins and bring out the candy! There’s no need to splurge at  the mall when you can create a costume with accessories you might already own and a makeup look to match. Keep reading for 5 great costume ideas…

1. Queen of hearts

You will need: a red dress with black leggings and red pumps or a red top and a black skirt or jeans with red pumps/flats, red heart-shaped jewelry, red lipstick, black eyeliner, white face powder, and of course, a crown!

How to do the makeup:

1. Start with a clean moisturized face and apply white face makeup with a sponge all over your face, neck (and shoulders/chest if wearing a strapless top) and blend .  2. Put on lip balm and apply concealer on lips.  3. Apply a peach/ copper blush on cheekbones.  4. Apply setting powder over face and neck.  5. With black liquid Eyeliner draw a thin line with a winged end on the upper lash, apply false lashes if you’d like, and finish with two coats of black mascara over lashes.   6. Using a lip brush apply red lip color on lips. Follow the natural peak of your lips to draw a red heart like in the picture.

2. Vampire

This classic costume is pretty simple. Dress in black and apply white face makeup on face and any other skin that’s showing. Try icy blue or red contacts for the night, and fangs. Apply cherry red lipstick and add some blood to finish your look.

Fake blood recipe:

3. Greek goddess

If you own a gold dress or top wear it, or you can also try a white dress/top with gold jewelry.

Black Dresses by Juicy Couture
Sandals by Matt Bernson

4. Cowgirl

Do your hair in pigtails, bring out a cute cowboy hat, pair it with shorts/skinny jeans and a cute checkered top, wear some cowgirl bootsand you got yourself a costume!

Day Dresses at ModCloth
Boots by Jessica Simpson

5. Angel or devil?!

Hard decision, both just as easy!

For the angel costume you will need a white outfit with white pumps/sandals, angel Wings , and a halo. Check out the video for heavenly makeup and you’re good to go!

For the devil costume bring out your favorite red dress with matching pumps, put on clip on devil horns, and watch the following video for a hot makeup look to wear that night.

Hope you enjoyed this post, have a safe and happy Halloween!!!

At one point everyone had brown eyes but a genetic mutation caused the melanin produced in the iris to reduce, and caused the brown shade to lighten into blue. (http://www.livescience.com/health/080131-blue-eyes.html)  Blue is a beautiful color with calming effects, maybe because it reminds us of the ocean. There are many colors that can be used to accentuate and play up such a great feature!

Great eyeshadows & liners to intensify blue…

• Urban Decay Stardust Eyeshadow - a dark purple shade with a bit of shimmer and a super silky texture. use this shade of purple instead of a black shadow when creating a smoky eye effect.
• LORAC Color Me Couture Eye Shadow Palette- great palette to own. 5 complimentary shimmering shades including: enlighten (creamy pearl), style (gold pearl), luxe ( bronze pearl), jade (olive green & gold pearl), designer (black & gold pearl). This neutral palette has complimentary colors which will create great looks on blue eyes.
• Urban Decay Metallic Glitter Eyeshadow - a lavender shade perfect to wear just on the eyelid around the tear duct and just below your lower lash line for a pretty yet subtle daytime look .
• NYX Trio Eye Shadow- a classic trio of matte colors featuring white, grey, and black. blend colors for a smoky effect or grey on the crease alone compliments blue eyes nicely.
• Urban Decay Three Piece Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner Set-draw a thin line as you would eyeliner in either silver-grey, blue-teal, or dark purple.
• Stila Smudge Pot Liner -in bronze or jade shimmer to best accentuate blue eyes. goes on silky smooth and a great replacement for pencil liner. smudge proof and stays on all day.
• Urban Decay Metallic Glitter Eyeshadow -in midnight cowboy rides again a golden-bronze shade with gold and silver shimmer.
• Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow -in freakshow, a rich-deep purple shade or honey, a creamy neutral shade.
• NYX Glitter Cream eyeshadow -in royal violets. a nice palette of colors including a shimmering lilac, soft and deep purple, gold, and grayish-black.
• DuWop Crush Eye Shadow -3 velvet-like colors in gold, copper, and bronze. soft and easy to apply as shadow yet dense enough to use as a liner also.
• MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes -water and fade proof pencil eyeliner available in a variety of colors!

A few more products that work well with blue eyes…

Eye Shadow by M·A·C
Lipstick by Estee Lauder

Accentuate blue eyes with these makeup tips

• Try white eyeliner or a shimmering silver one on your lower lash line to open eyes rather than black liner which makes eyes appear smaller.
• Blue eyeshadow doesn’t do much to play up your eyes so use with caution. Frost icy blue looks nice just on your lid, on the tear duct and below your lash line.
• Use brown mascara for a softer look and black mascara for a more dramatic effect.
• Dark green, navy blue, deep purple, or grey eyeliner also looks great around blue eyes.
• Keep the rest of your makeup minimal to draw attention to those blue peepers.
• Soft pink and peachy eye shadows blend well with blue eyes.
• Try grey eyeshadow instead of black for a more subtle smoky eye look.
• Purple shades look beautiful on blue eyes, as well as teal.

Got any tips you’d like to share?